The discussion lasted for about 75 minutes and Warden John Green called it “one of the greatest debates we’ve had at county council.”
The result is county council will be purchasing laptop computers for its members.
Councillors were considering the administration, finance, and personnel committee’s recommendation “That staff be authorized to acquire laptops for county councillors and department heads and to complete all steps necessary to allow for the provision of electronic agendas.”
The committee decided only councillors and department heads should have the laptops, and opted not to provide them to citizens sitting on committees. The county sought bids for buying or leasing the laptops.
Able One Computers, of Kitchener, set the lowest purchase price at $54,137, and the lowest lease price, at $1,532 per month for a three-year lease. That would result in at total lease cost of $55,178.
A Guelph firm had the highest bid at $57,155 to buy, and $1,875 per month on a three- year lease, for a total of $67,500.
Each unit will come with a three-year warranty and a spare battery, power bar, external mouse, backup unit (flash driver) security, anti-virus software, editing and office suite software, and other licences as required. Windows XP-Pro will be the operating system, according to the report by Mark Bolzon, manager of purchasing.
Councillor Lou Maieron began the debate by asking why the county was trying to fix something that is not broken. He said a computer is “a tool as good as the operator.” He added he is more comfortable working with paper copies, and noted all committee and council agendas are already posted on the county website.
“We can do our own searches,” he said. “That’s on the website right now. I don’t think [laptops] will improve the council dynamics in this chamber.”
Maieron called it “a larger expense. I’m talking on behalf of the taxpayers.”
He added that councillors would be able to communicate with each other via email at council meetings, and urged that communication “not be allowed. We all understand the implications,” he said, adding he wanted a recorded vote.
Councillor Brad Whitcombe said, “I’m willing to give it a try.”
He and Warden John Green have joked about Whitcombe’s abilities with computers. Whitcombe added if council does decide in favour, he would like to start training as soon as possible “so we can get comfortable.”
He added he currently has difficulty with his county fax machine running out of toner, and paper, and dealing with problems that give him two copies of half the agenda.
“The existing program is not without glitches,” Whitcombe said. “We’re really catching up with most other regional municipalities. It’s a tool for the 21st century and it’s time we embraced this thing.”
Councillor Chris White told council computers can go out of style very quickly, and he supports leasing rather than buying, because when they are obsolete, they can be replaced with new computers.
Councillor Mark MacKenzie asked what advantages there would be for councillors unable to get high speed internet service.
Warden John Green said there are plans to have high speed available all over, but he is not sure when. The warden indicated he favours computers, and said of the 266-page county agenda for that day, “I’ve been sorting paper all morning.”
Finance committee chairman Mike Broomhead said “We still have a little bit of work to do” prior to getting computers, and he said council must consider “Is the expense necessary?”
He noted his township council in Wellington North has laptops, and he finds them to be very beneficial.
He said the idea is to determine if council wants them, and then decide whether to buy or lease.
Councillor Jean Innes asked if there will be additional costs other than the laptops, licences, and programs.
Green said there will be training costs. There will be two half-day sessions that will cost $3,000 and include training and materials.
Councillor David Anderson said that will make the county more efficient.
Councillor Barb McKay called herself a “technopeasant” but said she is willing to try laptops.
As for renting or leasing, “I’ll be happy with the same laptop for ten years.”
White said just because technology changes every three minutes does not mean people change computers that often. He said if the machine does what is wanted, it can last for years.
“I don’t think obsolescence should be a big problem.”
Anderson asked that proposal be broken into two separate motions. The first would determine if council wants computers, and then whether to lease or buy.
Councillor Carl Hall wondered if council would start immediately, or wait until 2009, which a previous motion stated would be the time to start using them.
He added he is sure he is the most computer illiterate person on council. He has owned three of them; his grandkids have the first two, and his wife the third.
“I lost patience a long time ago,” he said, adding to much laughter, “I want first dibs on [information technologist] Mike Forbes.”
Innes pointed out again that the cost is “not inexpensive” and a lease would last longer than the current term. She wanted assurance that $3,000 would be all that is needed for training.
Green said it would not exceed that, but quipped, “Carl Hall and Brad Whitcombe might cost more.”
Treasurer Craig Dyer said there might be some expense in rewiring the council chamber for plugging in, and “This is not the only money to be spent,” he said of the training.
Green noted when council originally turned down the computer purchase, the proposed cost was $175,000.
Broomhead said rewiring would be “a one-time expense.”
He added, “If you keep meetings to a minimum, you can use batteries.”
White pointed out there will be some savings on paper and other costs when the laptops are in use.
Councillor Bob Wilson concluded the discussion by noting that he works for the school board, and there, “They bring in computers by the tractor load,” and, “Kids learn to use them. This is just a small part of the whole thing. The amount we’re going to spend on ourselves is a mere pittance to what we spend everywhere else.”
As for computers, he said, “I didn’t really like the blasted things.” He added that he copies only what he needs for county council.
“This is really a small amount of money we’re going to spend on our own information system.”
Green called the vote to obtain computers. Only Maieron and Innes were opposed, and the motion carried. Councillors Lynda White and Gord Tosh were absent.
Council then had to decide whether to buy or lease.
White asked Dyer which is the best option.
Dyer said buying is best.
Council then voted to buy, with MacKenzie and councillor Walter Trachsel in favour of leasing.
Green then remarked at the quality of debate and said he wondered what the results would be of councillors debated $5-million projects as heartily as they had the one costing about $60,000.
